April 22nd is Earth Day

March 20, 2007

Earth Day is the largest, most celebrated environmental event worldwide. In Canada, more than 6 million Canadians join over 180 countries in recognizing environmental issues. You can reduce your impact on the environment by reducing energy usage in the home. The average home uses most of its energy for heating; 46 per cent of the average home’s total energy consumption. Water heating accounts for 30 per cent; running appliances, 17 per cent; lighting, six per cent; and space cooling is one per cent.

Energy efficiency upgrades decrease greenhouse gas and other air emissions, which helps create healthier communities. By taking advantage of a number of rebate and grant programs from government and the private sector, you can make your home more energy efficient for an affordable cost.

How can I Make Changes?

Homeowners are advised to have a professional energy efficiency assessment (audit) done to determine the best course of action.

Reduce drafts and heat loss from your doors, windows, and attic hatch with weather stripping. In older homes, drafts can account for 30-40 per cent of total heat loss.

Install a programmable thermostat to reduce home heating at night and when away.

When purchasing furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, windows, doors, and major appliances, look for the ENERGY STAR® symbol.

The payback

The average payback on energy efficient investments is realized in five years for all building types.

In new homes, the energy savings recommended in the publication Energy Efficient Buildings: A Plan for BC can result in energy savings of $600 annually or $5,800 over 15 years for every new home over and above investment costs.

Improved comfort and indoor air quality is one of the benefits

Savings in energy use also decrease demand for energy, which helps keep customer rates low.

Energy-saving tips

Keeping Warm

Use caulking and weather-stripping to seal air leaks. Get a professional to help you reduce your home heating needs by up to 20% by getting rid of drafts and leaks around windows, doors, baseboards and attic hatches.
At the same time, seal electrical outlets and switches on outside walls with foam gaskets; on inside walls, use childproof plugs or combination cover plates.

Keep your furnace well maintained and change or clean furnace filters every couple of months. Dirty air filters block airflow and can damage the heat exchanger.
Seal and insulate warm-air ducts
Aluminium duct tape can easily seal leaks and reduce duct air leakage by up to 25%.

Insulation can also reduce heat loss from unheated areas, such as the basement or crawl space.

For every 1°C (2°F) you lower your thermostat, you save 2 per cent on your heating bill. A reduction of 3°C (5°F) at night and when you are away during the day provides optimal savings.
Shut off the pilot light on your natural gas fireplace or wall heater during summer months.
If you don't know how to re-light the pilot, ask your heating contractor to show you during your next servicing.

Install a ceiling fan
Change the direction of the fan to push warm air down in the winter. This especially benefits houses with electric baseboards or high cathedral ceilings.
If you need a fan with a light, choose one with compact fluorescent lights to further reduce electricity use and heat build-up in summer.
Remove window air conditioners for the winter
If they are fixed in place, seal them with caulking or tape and cover them with an airtight, insulated jacket to avoid heat loss.

Keep window curtains open during the day in winter. This allows passive solar energy into your home and can save you up to 5% on home heating. Close the curtains in the evening.
Install one of today's energy efficient furnaces
It can save your up to 25% of your home heating costs each year, reduce your GHGs and, depending on the efficiency of your old furnace, pay back for its higher initial cost in about seven years.

Install energy-efficient windows and doors
Look for windows and doors that have been certified by the Canadian Window and Door Manufacturers Association.
Install storm windows
If your windows are single-glazed, they will add and extra layer of protection. Windows can account for up to 25% of total house heat loss.
Replace exterior doors that are in poor condition with core-insulated, steel-clad doors or storm doors.

Keep your furnace well maintained

Keep your furnace well maintained and change or clean furnace filters every couple of months. Dirty air filters block airflow and can damage the heat exchanger.
Seal and insulate warm-air ducts
Aluminium duct tape can easily seal leaks and reduce duct air leakage by up to 25%. Insulation can also reduce heat loss from unheated areas, such as the basement or crawl space.

Upgrade your insulation in walls, the basement and attic. Insulating your basement walls and attic can reduce your energy bill by as much as 30%.


Keeping Cool

Keep blinds, curtains and windows closed during the day in summer to help keep your home cooler.

Use fans as your first line of defence against summer heat. Fore example, a 60-watt ceiling fan costs between 8¢ and $1.50 to operate monthly, while an air conditioner can cost between $6.75 and $40.50 a month.
Set your air conditioner at 24°C (75°F) and raise it when you go out, or set your programmable thermostat to do this.
For each degree set below 24°C (75°F), you use 3% to 5% more energy. This recommended setting will give you the most comfort at the least cost.
Clean the air conditioner's filter every month. A dirty air filter reduces airflow and may damage the unit. Clean filters enable the unit to cool down quickly and use less energy.
If you have a central air conditioner, regularly clean the reusable filter or change the filter at the beginning of the cooling season.

Turn off all sources of heat, such as lights, appliances and electrical equipment, when not in use. In summer, if you can, do your baking, washing, drying and ironing early in the morning or in the evening.
Shut off the pilot light on your natural gas fireplace or wall heater during summer months. If you don't know how to re-light the pilot, ask your heating contractor to show you during your next servicing.

Water Heating

Go for a high-efficiency water heater unit
Some new models heat water only when you need it, rather than storing hot water in a tank.
Take a quick shower instead of a bath. A five-minute shower, for instance, uses up to 50% less hot water than a bath.
Avoid running the tap while shaving, brushing your teeth or doing dishes. Partially fill the sink with water and stop about 80% of that clean water from going down the drain - along with your money.

Insulate water pipes to reduce heat loss. Insulate the first two metres of the hot and cold water pipes from the water heater. A significant amount of heat travels through these pipes and can be lost, particularly through unheated areas such as basements and crawl spaces.
For safety, don't place any pipe insulation within 15 centimetres (6 inches) of the exhaust vent at the top of standard natural gas/propane or oil-fired water heaters, and never insulate plastic pipes.

If you have an electric water heater, insulate the tank for further energy savings.
Turn off your cottage's water heater when you leave. It wastes energy to keep water hot when it isn't needed. It doesn't take long to heat up when you return.

In Your Kitchen

Maintain your refrigerator and freezer for better energy use
Clean the refrigerator heating coils regularly. When you clean them, check the condition of the coils and components at the back of the unit.
Keep the rubber door seals clean and tight. They should hold a piece of paper snugly. If the paper slips out easily, replace the seal.

Look for an ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator if you're in the market for a new one. For example, a 2002 model uses less than half the electricity of a unit built 10 years ago and can reduce GHGs by more than 0.2 tonne each year.
Unplug that second refrigerator or freezer
Unless you really need these appliances, don't waste energy or money needlessly. This tip is particularly important if they are older, less-efficient models.

Select the dishwasher's no-heat or air-drying cycle
Turn off the electric element that heats the interior of the unit and causes the water to evaporate. It is easy to do and will save on your hydro bill.
Scrape off your dishes instead of rinsing them and run the dishwasher only when it is full.

Increase the efficiency of your refrigerator and freezer
Keep them away from heat sources (direct sunlight, furnace vents and radiators) and appliances (oven, stove and dishwasher) that can make them work harder to stay cool.
At the same time, check the temperature settings. Keep your refrigerator temperature between 1.7°C (35°F) and 3.3°C (38°F) and the freezer compartment at -18°C (0°F) for maximum efficiency and safety.

In the Laundry Room

Wash and rinse in cold water, use cold water detergent
Clothes rinsed in cold water come out as clean as those rinsed in warm water.
Washing in warm rather than hot water uses 50% less energy and your clothes will come out just as well rinsed and, depending on the fabric, less wrinkled.
Avoid over-drying clothes
Clothes should dry in 40 to 60 minutes. Better yet, hang clothes outdoors to dry when the weather permits.
If you are buying a new dryer, look for one with a moisture sensor. It will turn off automatically when clothes are dry.

Lighting

Install outdoor automatic timers
You won't have to remember to turn your outdoor lights on in the evening and off during the day. Installing a timer can cut your outdoor lighting energy use by up to half.
Or use motion detectors that switch on automatically when people move close to them and switch off after a few minutes.

Use more efficient light bulbs
The amount of electricity needed to light Canadian home results in almost one third of a tonne of GHGs each year.
By replacing five of the most used standard bulbs in you home with ENERGY Star® - qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs, you can reduce your GHGs and save about $30 each year.


Home Office

Ensure your computer system is set up to use its energy-saver option.

Machines are often shipped with this feature disabled. If you buy an ENERGY STAR® - qualified computer, the power-saving feature is automatically set.
Look on the box for ENERGY STAR® - qualified equipment
It will keep your home energy use, GHG emission and costs down.

Use as little paper as possible
Printing, photocopying and faxing use energy. Use e-mail more often - it is quicker, less expensive and healthier for the environment. Also use recycled paper whenever possible.

Turn off lights and equipment when a work area isn't being used, even better if you don't need them, don't turn the lights on in the first place. Natural light saves energy and is easier on you eyes.
A computer that runs 24 hours a day uses between $75 and $120 worth of electricity each year. You can save about $15 on you annual energy bill with an ENERGY STAR® - qualified computer in standby mode.
If you are buying a laser printer, look for energy-saver features
Units that automatically switch to standby when not in use reduce electricity consumption by more than 65%.
Buy a monitor that is the right size for your needs
Generally, the larger the monitor, the more energy it consumes, with the exception of an LCD monitor.

Outside Maintenance

Capture rainwater for your garden. The water you use for you lawn doesn't have to come from a tap. A cistern or a rain barrel will capture and store rainwater for irrigation.
Make sure your barrel is covered with a tight-fitting lid or screen to keep disease-carrying mosquitoes from breeding there.

Practise "grass cycling"
Leave grass clippings on your lawn where they quickly break down and add needed nutrients to your lawn. Keeping grass out of your garbage can save 0.1 tonne in GHGs.
Water your garden or lawn early in the morning, after the dew has dried, to reduce losses due to evaporation.
More than half of the water applied to lawns and gardens can be lost due to evaporation or run-off because of over-watering.
As a rule, most lawns and gardens require little more than two to three centimetres of water per week.

Avoid using chemical pesticides or fertilizers on your lawn and garden. Chemical fertilizer is a source of nitrous oxide, a GHG.
Try using organic products - they are better for our environment and healthier for your lawn and your family.
Limit your use of gas-powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers and snow blowers. Using a manual push mower or an electric mower instead of a gas-powered mower will reduce GHGs.
Using a typical gas-powered mower produces 48 kilograms of GHGs in a season and as much air pollution as a car driven 550 kilometres.

Maintain your pool efficiently
Use pump timers to regulate energy and the length of time your pool is heated. Cover you pool with a thermal blanket to reduce heat loss and water evaporation. And use cost-effective solar panels to heat your pool.
Plant trees
A well-placed line of evergreens on the north side of your home can shelter it against cold winter winds and reduce your home's demand for heat.
Similarly, shade trees on the south side can keep your home cooler in summer and reduce the need for air conditioning by shading your home's windows and walls.
Waste and Recycling

Recycle all recyclable materials

Find out what materials can be recycled in your municipality and challenge your household to make sure those materials don't get thrown in the garbage.
Every extra kilogram of fine paper you recycle is four kilograms fewer GHGs.
Compost your organic kitchen waste
You can compost fruits, vegetables, tea bags and coffee grounds, as well as leaf and yard waste. Compost makes valuable fertilizer and reduces the amount of waste in landfills.
By composting, a family of three can reduce GHGs by more than one eighth of a tonne each year.
Pay attention to goods and packaging
Evaluate your purchases and consider how they contribute to your household waste. Buy more durable goods and re-usable products and ask for products with less packaging.

Information provided by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources publication: Energy Efficient Buildings: A Plan for BC. Homeowners can reduce energy costs by an average of 17 per cent and improve the comfort and air quality by following the affordable changes recommended in the publication